Narrative:

This is not the first time eze approach control has done this. They clear you to 5000 ft and give you the altimeter setting in millibars. They have the trans level set at 4000 ft; however; it is common to have many aircraft in a hold at intersection arsot and they even do this in the holding while descending. Due to language difficulties; they are unable to understand that it is improper to give the millibar altimeter setting until clearing the aircraft to 4000 ft. They should not ask aircraft to descend to 5000 ft and give the altimeter setting in millibars; period. If the altimeter setting is wide from standard; aircraft could very well have a midair collision in the holding pattern at arsot or elsewhere.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B767-300 CAPTAIN REPORTS APCH CTLRS AT SAEZ PROVIDE ALTIMETER SETTINGS TO ACFT CLEARED TO 'FLT LEVELS.' INCORRECTLY STATES TRANSITION LEVEL IS FL040.

Narrative: THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME EZE APCH CTL HAS DONE THIS. THEY CLR YOU TO 5000 FT AND GIVE YOU THE ALTIMETER SETTING IN MILLIBARS. THEY HAVE THE TRANS LEVEL SET AT 4000 FT; HOWEVER; IT IS COMMON TO HAVE MANY ACFT IN A HOLD AT INTXN ARSOT AND THEY EVEN DO THIS IN THE HOLDING WHILE DSNDING. DUE TO LANGUAGE DIFFICULTIES; THEY ARE UNABLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS IMPROPER TO GIVE THE MILLIBAR ALTIMETER SETTING UNTIL CLRING THE ACFT TO 4000 FT. THEY SHOULD NOT ASK ACFT TO DSND TO 5000 FT AND GIVE THE ALTIMETER SETTING IN MILLIBARS; PERIOD. IF THE ALTIMETER SETTING IS WIDE FROM STANDARD; ACFT COULD VERY WELL HAVE A MIDAIR COLLISION IN THE HOLDING PATTERN AT ARSOT OR ELSEWHERE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.